Thread: Rough estimate to grade front yard?

I hate to do this because I know pricing varies from region to region, and it's difficult to give an exact estimate without viewing
the property in person. With that said, I am just looking for a ballpark price for what I should expect to pay to have this work completed.

The area is roughly 4500-5000 sqft (~70' x 70') based on my measurements from my fencing project.

My yard is very uneven with ruts, highs, lows. No huge hills or deep valleys. Just needs a final grade. Already have drainage grade with
a natural runoff away from the house. I'm just looking to get it flat. What other services should I ask for? Have it rolled? Or is the bucket
enough? Hydroseed?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

You can see the slope of the yard here:

General layout, nothing major.

Old picture for reference. The evergreen tree and all bushes are gone now.

Sounds like you are in the ballpark. I had a couple people come out and take a look at it. First was $1K, with me ordering the dirt seperately, and having someone else (at his recommendation) hydroseed after. Second was $1700 with dirt/seed/straw. I don't know how much dirt each one had planned on using.

Yikes. That'll never pass the wife-sniffer, especially in a house that she wants to move out of. I guess I'm just going to have to do it the best I can with what I have.

It is quite common for people to think of a skidster for 'leveling'... that small of an area really isn't worth getting a skidster out of the garage... the best way to handle a situation like that is too till up the bare spots and rake it out smooth...
For current areas of established turf you can start the process of raking in soil in thin layers to fill in, w/out suffocating the grass...

Without addressing any of your grass growing problem's, do you know that the the prime time to seed was Sept. 1? Seeding now is risky, the soil temperature is too low. Grass seeded in the spring won't make it through the summer. If you are planning on staying there, make plan's now for the fall of 2013

Thanks for the advice guys. I may not be in this house in Fall '13, so we will see what direction things take us. At least I'm in position now to work on the yard now that the fence is done and I know what height each side of the yard needs to be.

About 5000 square feet, I would recommend spraying out existing vegetation, mid march, with roundup, wait 2 weeks, Harley rake it with the ASV RC30, and seed with improved tall fescue, fertilize, with starter fert, no later than 1st week of April. (MD area) Price $1300 It would behoove you to have a soil test taken, now, to see if you need to lime. Lime can be done earlier, and would add $ to the final price.